J.T. Miller Does Not Fit What the New Jersey Devils Are Building

It is that time of year again when the silly season gets into full swing. This time the New Jersey Devils are being linked to Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller. But is Miller somebody the Devils actually need, and does he fit into what President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald is building? 

As Full Press Hockey has documented, the New Jersey Devils have many needs during the trade deadline season. The first is a center, and the second is a pure goal scorer. The pure goal scorer goes back to the summer off-season checklist. Though offense wasn’t a problem, they never replaced Tyler Toffoli‘s goal production. 

However, despite multiple reports, the Devils are not acquiring or interested in J.T. Miller, nor have they even called about him. Just go back to what Fitzgerald said at the beginning of the season when he was asked by reporters what types of players he was looking for in the off-season. 

“We want good people, no dickheads..just good people,” Fitzgerald told the attending media. 

That does not seem to fit in line with what Miller is all about. Again these are reports, but there is a history in Vancouver with Miller and the Canucks. It is about to come to a boiling point if it is not already there. As Full Press Hockey has mentioned, the Canucks are looking to shop Miller and Elias Pettersson. However, it seems like Miller could be the first to go. 

Vancouver Canucks: Vancouver Canucks Trade Options Involving Elias Petterson and JT Miller

New Jersey Devils:Tom Fitzgerald Defensive Signing Could Impact Future For Top Prospect

Calgary Flames: Calgary Flames Weighing All Trade Options

New Jersey Devils: NHL Rumors: Could the New Jersey Devils Eventually Trade Simon Nemec?

However, some people think Miller to the Devils is more than smoke. But it is just that pre-Four-Nations trade smoke that surrounds many teams. Devils President and GM Tom Fitzgerald was on Sportsnet 590, and when he was asked about the trade chatter surrounding Miller, he poured cold water right on it.

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald was on SN The Fan 590 on Thursday and poured cold water on the rumours. “Patrik (Allvin, Canucks GM) and I are really good friends. Quite honestly, we haven’t talked,” he said.

Now look, JT Miller is a good hockey player. There is no denying that, but is he the type of player the Devils need right now? If you look at Miller, he is great on the ice. His numbers of 668 points (246 goals and 422 assists) in 833 regular season games back up his production on the ice. But this season, he is struggling with 29 points in 34 games, including eight goals. 

Remember, Miller took time away from the team because of a personal issue. And the tension between him and Pettersson is well-documented. So why would the Devils want to add that type of element into a room that is being built to win a championship? 

Fitzgerald was asked by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic what type of player he is looking to get at the deadline. 

“Somebody that can come in and maybe give us that extra oomph – and maybe proper slot people to make us a strong four-line team come playoff time,” Fitzgerald said. “And build depth because of injuries. And build competition, too. We love what we have. I just really want to add on top of that.”

That does not sound like J.T. Miller. That sounds more like guys who have won. Maybe a player like Yanni Gourde, whom Full Press Hockey linked to the Devils a few months ago. Ryan O’Reilly could fit that description as well. There are other players out there too. 

Plus do the Devils really want to bring on that cap hit. Accoring to PuckPedia.com, Miller has an $8 million cap hit the Devils wuld have to eat for the next five plus seasons if they were to trade for him now. Now, teams know 50 percent of their championship rosters are through trades, but this would be a drastic one.

This would really shake up this team and the core to the foundation. Remember, the Devils already got rid of a problem once, not sure they are looking to add that same type of problem again. 

While JT Miller to the New Jersey Devils sounds like a good idea, in reality it is not. This team does not need that type of player on this team to win. There are other options that are better. 

Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald was on SN The Fan 590 on Thursday and poured cold water on the rumours. “Patrik (Allvin, Canucks GM) and I are really good friends. Quite honestly, we haven’t talked,” he said.

Now look, JT Miller is a good hockey player. There is no denying that, but is he the type of player the Devils need right now? If you look at Miller, he is great on the ice. His numbers of 668 points (246 goals and 422 assists) in 833 regular season games back up his production on the ice. But this season, he is struggling with 29 points in 34 games, including eight goals. 

Remember, Miller took time away from the team because of a personal issue. And the tension between him and Pettersson is well-documented. So why would the Devils want to add that type of element into a room that is being built to win a championship? 

Fitzgerald was asked by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic what type of player he is looking to get at the deadline. 

“Somebody that can come in and maybe give us that extra oomph – and maybe proper slot people to make us a strong four-line team come playoff time,” Fitzgerald said. “And build depth because of injuries. And build competition, too. We love what we have. I just really want to add on top of that.”

That does not sound like J.T. Miller. That sounds more like guys who have won. Maybe a player like Yanni Gourde, whom Full Press Hockey linked to the Devils a few months ago. Ryan O’Reilly could fit that description as well. There are other players out there too. 

Plus do the Devils really want to bring on that cap hit. Accoring to PuckPedia.com, Miller has an $8 million cap hit the Devils wuld have to eat for the next five plus seasons if they were to trade for him now. Now, teams know 50 percent of their championship rosters are through trades, but this would be a drastic one.

This would really shake up this team and the core to the foundation. Remember, the Devils already got rid of a problem once, not sure they are looking to add that same type of problem again. 

While JT Miller to the New Jersey Devils sounds like a good idea, in reality it is not. This team does not need that type of player on this team to win. There are other options that are better.